Switzerland does not reach climate target

Greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland amounted to 46.2 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents in 2019, about 0.3 million metric tons less than in 2018, according to the greenhouse gas inventory of the Federal Office for the Environment (Bafu). Emissions were thus 14 percent lower than in the base year 1990.

Building sector: 34 percent fewer emissions than in 1990

Greenhouse gas emissions from the buildings sector were again 11.2 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents (CO2-eq) in 2019. This was 34 percent lower than in the base year 1990. The fact that emissions remained the same as in 2018 despite a colder winter is mainly due to the improved energy efficiency of buildings and the increasing replacement of oil and gas heating systems with heat pumps and renewable energies. The strong impact of winter temperatures on emissions shows that the building sector continues to be heated with fossil fuels to a significant extent. If the effect of weather is factored out, the sector shows a decrease in emissions of about 0.3 million tons per year. This trend is too small to achieve the reduction target of 40 percent by 2020.

Industrial sector: 14 percent lower emissions than in 1990

The industrial sector emitted 11.2 million metric tons of CO2-eq in 2019, around 14 percent less than in the base year 1990. Emissions thus remained unchanged from the previous year. Emissions from the industrial sector have remained at a relatively stable level in recent years. If this trend continues, the reduction target of 15 percent by 2020 will not be met.

Transport sector: 1 percent more emissions than in 1990

In 2019, emissions from the transport sector were around 15 million metric tons of CO2-eq, the same as in 2018. Emissions thus remain 1 percent above the 1990 baseline. While biofuel blending has increased in recent years, reaching nearly 4 percent of total fuel sales in 2019, it has also led to an increase in the use of biofuels. More efficient vehicles have also led to declining CO2 emissions per kilometer. However, the increase in miles traveled offsets these positive effects. If the trend remains the same, the transport sector will miss the target of minus 10 percent by 2020.

Other emissions: Agriculture and synthetic greenhouse gases

Emissions from agriculture decreased slightly compared to 2018 to about 6.5 million metric tons CO2-eq, about 12 percent lower than the 1990 baseline. Emissions of synthetic greenhouse gases, such as refrigerants, decreased slightly compared to 2018 to about 1.6 million metric tons in 2019. As of Jan. 1, 2019, the Montreal Protocol regulates 18 major synthetic greenhouse gases. With the implementation of the protocol - also by Switzerland - a significant decrease in emissions of these gases is expected. Nevertheless, Switzerland will probably not achieve the envisaged reduction in other emissions of around 10 percent by 2020 compared with 1990.

Based on the 2019 greenhouse gas inventory, Bafu assumes that Switzerland will miss its overall reduction target under the CO2 Act of minus 20 percent greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared to 1990. In order to significantly reduce emissions, it is essential to step up measures such as those provided for in the revised CO2 Act.

Conclusion

According to Bafu, Switzerland will miss its national climate target for 2020 of minus 20 percent greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990. In order to significantly reduce emissions, it is necessary to strengthen measures such as the revised CO2 Act is unavoidable.

Source: Bafu

Greenhouse Gas Inventory Switzerland

Swiss climate reporting under the UNFCCC (available in English)